<p>Most of these students are better in math than verbal skills due to their second language status. GPAs around 3.0-3.5. Not many ECs, but coming to this country is like one big EC for them! All are studying for TOEFL, will take PSAT in the fall. Families will be able to pay full tuition. Some are thinking bigger schools, but most will probably prefer LACs. I realize this is a very broad request! They are delightful friends of my son, are just starting to think and talk about the college search (juniors, a couple of seniors) and don't know where to start.</p>
<p>It’s probably hard to say unless there’s test scores to go off of.</p>
<p>Where are these students right now? If they are in the US, the guidance counselor at their school should be able to come up with viable suggestions for them. If they are outside the US, their first stop should be the website <a href=“http://www.educationusa.state.gov%5B/url%5D”>www.educationusa.state.gov</a> After they have read through everything there, they should make appointments with the counselors at the advising center closest to where they live. Those counselors are expert at helping students educated in the schools in that country find good places to study in the US. Here is the link to the one in Beijing [EducationUSA</a> - Center Profile - EducationUSA China](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/centers.php?id=1105]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/centers.php?id=1105) EducationUSA is a not-for-profit organization that prides itself on providing reliable, unbiased information. There may be small fees for some of the services, but nothing that these students can’t afford.</p>
<p>They also should be encouraged to read through some of the information here in the International Students Forum. They may be able to get good ideas from the older threads.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>Full pay 3-3.5 GPA international students will be welcome with open arms at many schools. My suggestion – after absorbing basic information through sources such as happymomof1 suggests – would be to hit the various search engines: on CC, collegeboard, princetonreview etc. They’d generate a list of potential match schools based on grades/scores, size, region and academic opportunities. I can tell you that most Chinese families are very name/status-oriented and will perhaps need some convincing that schools without the “flash” factor can offer their kids a great education and a fulfilling experience.</p>
<p>This is excellent and very helpful advice. Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that Asians are URMs at the midwestern LACs, so they have better odds there than at LACs on the coasts, all other things being equal.</p>
<p>What is their immigration status likely to be when they enroll in college and when they graduate? If they aren’t legal permanent residents (green card status) by graduation, they will find it nearly impossible to get a permanent job here. In that case studying at a college/university with reasonable name recognition for employers back home is absolutely critical.</p>
<p>True - although my feeling is that these are fairly well-to-do families (willing, after all, to spend over a quarter million dollars on one child’s education) whose likely connections may cushion the realities of job hunting back home. There are lots of Chinese students like these in good, but not terribly big ‘name’ schools across the US.</p>
<p>Sounds like a topic to rep my school… Earlham is one of the most international colleges in the US (77 countries, 200 international students out of 1200 total) with a fairly active Chinese population on campus and great academics. We aren’t a super selective college (though international admissions can be more selective), so I wouldn’t worry about a 3.2-ish GPA keeping them out.</p>
<p><em>edit</em> and if they’re Chinese-American, that’s fine too. =) I’m not sure if OP is talking about international Chinese students or domestic Chinese students.</p>
<p>“Name recognition” is highly variable. In some international job markets all that matters is that the diploma is from a US institution. In others if it isn’t from X, Y, or Z, the student is better off staying home. Not to mention that for some job markets where there are strong historical ties with X, the College Confidential List of HYPSM and near-peers are not remotely as useful as X. For those reasons I would encourage the young people in question to do a bit of investigation about employability before they start their college lists.</p>
<p>These students are presently enrolled at a small private school in the US, and so will have some guidance in the college selection process. The reason I posted here was to get exactly the kind of discussion that you all have kindly provided! They are friends of my son (he’s not Chinese), who is also an upcoming junior and just starting to think about where he will apply. Their parents are definitely into the the big name recognition, with the Ivy League very preferable…</p>